Wire stretcher



March 10, 1925. 1,529,560

' F. M. TH OMAS WIRE STRETCHER Filed June 9, 1924 FM Tho/1242.3

' ATTORNEY WITNESS Patented Mar. 10, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FRED M. THOMAS, OF EUREKA, KANSAS.

WIRE STRETCHEB.

Application filed June 9,

a To all whom it may concern:

I. the following is a specification.

This invention contemplatesthe provision of a tool designed to be conveniently used as a wire stretcher and staple puller.

In carrying out the invention I contemplate the provisionof a tool which is very simple in construction and cheap to manufacture, and one designed to obtain an effective grip upon the'wire tobe stretched and to hold the wire taut while a staple is being driven into a fence post across which the wire has been stretched. T

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing howthe tool is used for stretching a strand of 'wire'across the fence post.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the tool.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing how the tool can be used as a staple puller.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Figure 2. 1

The tool forming the present invention comprises a lever of sub-' stantially L-shaped formation, the body portion of which is indicated at 10, while the relatively short offset branch or portion is indicated at 11. This portion 11 is'slightly reduced in thickness adjacent the upper end thereof, and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to one side of this reduced portion is a small plate 12, the upper extremity 13 of which is offset to provide a groove or chan nel for the reception of the wire strand 14 to be stretched by the tool. Pivoted upon the branch 11 of the tool is a cam shaped locking lever 15 the working portion of which is provided with teeth 16, so that when the lever 15 is moved to an active position the teeth 16 engage the wire strand 14 and eifectively hold the wirefixedwithin subject matter of the I 1924. Serial No. 718,905,

the groove above mentioned. Supported by the portion 11 of the tool and projecting at a right angle therefrom is a pointed lug 17 adapted to be slightly embedded in the post A whenv the tool is in use as shown in Figure 1. The opposite end of this lever 10 is offset as at 18, which offset portion tapers to a point so it can be conveniently inserted within a'staple 19 when it is desired to extract a staple from apost or other object. This use of the tool is clearly shown in Figure 3. I 1

lVhen it is desired to stretch a strand of wire across a fence post or'the like, the said, strand is received within the groove above mentioned, and the lever 15"swung to the position shown in Figure 1, in which position the lever serves to hold the wire securely attached to the tool. The pointed lug 17 is then arranged against the fence post A," and by pressing down on thelever 10, the wire strand will be stretched and held taut; until it is secured to the fence post by means of a staple in the ordinary well known manner. Manifestly the greater the pull upon the strand 14, the more effective is the grip-'' ping action of the lever15.

While it is believed that going description, the, nature and advan from the fore-e tages of the invention will be readily appari stantially flush with the adjacent side of said end member, said plate 'reposing upon said shoulder, means for securing the plate to said end member, the outer end of said plate being curved outwardly to define a wire receiving groove with the adjacent side of said end member, said end member projecting an appreciable distance beyond the outer end of said plate, and a cam shaped locking lever pivoted on the end member beyond said plate and adapted to be received by said groove to clamp a wire therein.

Intestimony whereof I atfix my signature.

FRED M. THOMAS. 

